AURIZON and GVK Coal Infrastructure, Singapore, a subsidiary of GVK Hancock, have signed a non-binding agreement to develop port and rail infrastructure that will unlock coal reserves from GVK Hancock's mines in Queensland's Galilee Basin, as well as support the next phase of growth in the Bowen Basin.

NEW South Wales transport minister Ms Gladys Berejiklian announced last week that three groups made up of 33 companies have been shortlisted for the surface and viaduct civil contract of Sydney's North West Rail Link project.

INVENSYS Rail has been awarded a $A 39m ($US 40.6m) turnkey contract by South Australia's Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to install ERTMS signalling and train control on Adelaide's commuter rail network as part of the Adelaide Rail Revitalisation programme.

FOLLOWING speculation last year, Pilbara iron-ore miner Fortescue Metal Group (FMG) has confirmed that it is to sell a minority interest in its rail and port assets.

THE Australian government has allocated $A 95m ($US 90m) to Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to support investment in reliability and capacity upgrades on the Adelaide – Perth rail corridor.

WITH the signing of a 12-year agreement with Whitehaven Coal, Aurizon (formerly QR National) is preparing to significantly expand its coal operation in New South Wales from July 2014.

TRIALS have begun in Sydney of the new Opal contactless public transport smartcard system, which is being installed by the Cubic-led Pearl consortium under a $A 370m ($US 398m) contract awarded in May 2010.

THE future of the proposed Surat Basin Rail (SBR) project in southern Queensland is under a cloud after the consortium charged with building the link failed to act on its notice of intention to acquire land identified for construction of the corridor.

WITH the release of the final version of its NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan the New South Wales state government has announced that a new light rail line will be built through the centre of Sydney to serve the districts of Randwick and Kingsford.

FOLLOWING speculation that Pilbara iron-ore miner Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) was considering selling its rail infrastructure as a way of reducing its debt liabilities, the company has confirmed to The West Australian newspaper that it has opened up a data room for a small group of potential investors.